| The Copper
Canyon is home to 60,000 Tarahumara, or in their own language,
they are the Raramuri, 'those who walk through life correctly.'
THE PEOPLE
The Tarahumara are the second largest indigenous group north of
Mexico City (the Navajo
in the United States are the first). They are famous for their long
distance running. Some are capable of running nonstop for more than
20 hours. When the Spanish arrived in the early 1500s, the Tarahumara
lived in the fertile valleys of central Chihuahua. To evade the
missionaries and Spanish settlers, they moved to the mountains.
Today, their settlements are very small and often seasonal. Tarahumaras
traditionally live in caves or cabins along the canyon rims during
the summer and move to the canyon bottoms during the winter. This
is all geared toward a productive agricultural system in which specialized
crops are grown for a specific altitude or type of soil. Corn is
the major crop and the indigenous milpas, or fields, can boast more
than six different strains, including blue, red and white corn.
TOURISM
If you do visit, please respect their privacy. That said, many
Tarahumara are qualified guides who want to help bridge gaps in
cultural understanding.
SPIRITUALITY
The Tarahumara have an organic cosmology - a vital part of their
religion is their belief that they are an integral part of the land
and of the universe itself.
RARAMURI PHRASES
Good morning Kuira, Kuira-bá
Good afternoon Kuira, Kuira-bá
Good evening Kuira, Kuira-bá
Hello Kuira, Kuira-bá
Thank you Matétera-bá
Until tomorrow Ipaché
Goodbye Adios-ibá
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